$1bn Deal to Develop Iranian Zinc Mine

The state-run Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organisation (IMIDRO) has signed a deal with a consortium of six private companies to develop Mehdiabad, one of the world’s largest zinc mines.

The group is led by the Mobin mining company, and the deal will involve “mine operation and construction of zinc, lead and silver plants“.

Mehdiabad, in Yazd Provincem, has 154 million tonnes of reserves including 88 million tonnes zinc sulfide and 66 million tonnes zinc oxide. It’s predicted that these reserves will increase to 700 million tonnes by the completion of exploration projects.

It is expected to start production within the next four years, and to produce 800,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate annually.